There is an article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press today (September 4th) stating that the Minnesota Commercial Railway is suing the City of St. Paul for $500,000 for alleged damage to their bridge spanning Como Avenue in St. Paul, MN.

Be advised that that website caused my computer to go crazy, and may be a dangerous site.

The response from the city is typical. Should be interesting to discover what the truth actually is.

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How long has the railroad been aware of this and when did they put the city on notice? (something sounds not right, it might be the newsworkers prose)

How long has the current arrangement been in place?

License agreement (contract) or Easement or both in place?

If it's an agreement, a good bet is the city lost the contract agreement copy long ago. Easement happy city bubbas probably blind to the contract.

Public crossing under a railroad? -Where's the current document filed with the current version of the State RR Commission? MNDOT now, MN Public Service 1967-76 ...Looks Like the bridge is 1930-1950's vintage (based on the bents & handrails) with a reinforced concrete fascade covering up steel beams on concrete bents with the road going under the middle of 3 spans , DOT 928-828U...

...and yes, drainage under a bridge with a railroad underneath is a big issue that never seems to go away in grade separation proposals. Highway bubbas frequently don't care where the scuppers, etc drain to once it's off the bridge deck.

Mudchicken
Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west

M.C. and PDN: Sure seems that for someone in your lines of work, Politicians and inept Public Servants, seem to be intrinsick to your lines of continuing work; certainly, your job security is safe for a long time...

YMMV, but in my neck of the woods, the city of Fort Wayne spent some money refacing the concrete in several railroad overpasses for city streets. The overpasses date back to a city law requiring elevation of certain lines. I even participated in one of the projects.

M.C. and PDN: Sure seems that for someone in your lines of work, Politicians and inept Public Servants, seem to be intrinsick to your lines of continuing work; certainly, your job security is safe for a long time...

Sam: Same old story regarding the lack of understanding between railroads and the rubber tired bubbas on the taxpayer funded/subsidized roadway system...no matter where you go.

Mike 2-8-2: now you see why I was asking about the contract in place. Did somebody file a charge or counter-charge before looking at what the contract agreement actually says? The Cls. 1's have public project engineers for that; the little guys don't. Town employees pushed by their political bosses often shoot first from the hip, only to get embarrassed later when shown the contract.

Railroad public projects engineers are a breed apart with the patience of a saint and savvy beyond their years. Not sure I would last very long in that post.

Mudchicken
Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west

(MC quote) Railroad public projects engineers are a breed apart with the patience of a saint and savvy beyond their years. Not sure I would last very long in that post.

Amen to that MC. I worked with two over the years and they were very mild mannered. When they asked me for assistance I made suggestions that my friends said would upset those with whom they were trying to work. But frequently my suggestions aided them and I became a 'go to guy' about some issues.

I mentioned this story as it because it illustrated an agreement that was honored. I assume the city was responsible for everything below the span, as that is where the street is. I thought it was relevant. Some were under a shortline and the others a Class I. As far as I can tell, both were treated equally with respect to type of repairs. Again, YMMV, as not all municipalities will own up to the results of their decisions.